So who's this KIT NAPIER?

[KZNSeagull]

When googling Kit Napier I came across a very old NSC thread where On the Left Wing had tracked him down to Durban and asked him to write to John Prescott in support of the new Stadium. Just another example of the lengths people went to during campaining:

https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/showthread.php?17079-I-ve-found-Kit-Napier!

The car dealership in question is still there but he isn't - long retired I would expect.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I'm a young fart (59 going on 60) and can remember those days!


One Kenny Beamish....there's only one Kenny Beamish..


TNBA


TTF

Oh Kenny Beamish! Kenny Kenny Kenny Kenny Kenny Beamish!

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Kit Napier 66-72
Alex Dawson 68-71

Side by side

 

[Dorset Seagull]

I'm a young fart (59 going on 60) and can remember those days!


One Kenny Beamish....there's only one Kenny Beamish..


TNBA


TTF

I'm an average fart (59 going on 60) and also remember my Albion youth with fondness

 

[Rogero]

Seem to recall Kit scoring direct from a couple of corners at the Goldstone

Ditto.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

View attachment 71550

Side by side

Ah the Eddie Spearritt long throw now that was something to behold

 

[lawros left foot]

Ah the Eddie Spearritt long throw now that was something to behold

I remember him being on Football Focus or its equivalent, where they had a long throw competition, he didn't win, and I can't recall who did.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

I remember him being on Football Focus or its equivalent, where they had a long throw competition, he didn't win, and I can't recall who did.

I think that was held at Stamfotd Bridge but can't be sure

 

[Cheshire]

That goal was one of the most memorable I have ever seen and spot on as described by Not Andy Naylor. I also more than one goal from a corner, and his corners generally caused havoc in defences.

What I haven't seen mentioned is that Kit Napier wasn't universally appreciated by many fans at the time. Tackling and physical contact were not his strengths and quite a few fans considered him a fairy or worse........................, he was great to watch and definitely a Goldstone legend!

On the physical contact front, as well as memories of most of the mentions in this thread, seem to remember in the days of muddy pitches the rest of the team would come off with kit looking dirty and he would walk off with his kit looking as clean as when he had entered the pitch.

 

[lawros left foot]

I think that was held at Stamfotd Bridge but can't be sure

I think you may be right, and did Alan Hudson take part?

 

[goldstone68]

Hence my NSC picture, this was around the time I started my roller coaster ride with the Albion,

 

[el punal]

I remember him being on Football Focus or its equivalent, where they had a long throw competition, he didn't win, and I can't recall who did.

It could have been Inigo Calderon, but he would have been disqualified for a foul throw!

 

[bobby baxter]

I think that was held at Stamfotd Bridge but can't be sure

And I think it was won by Ian Hutchinson, with Eddie down amongst the also rans.
I remember Eddie Spearritt moving to Carlisle who had won promotion to the old First Division.

 

[Napier's Knee]

The man behind my NSC name. I remember him as being very hairy, nicotine stained fingers and one of the all time Albion greats. He had skill, imagination and humour. He was my first Albion hero. Wanted to have Alan Duffy as a hero too but he turned out not to be very good

 

[Dirk Lehmann's Python]

He's still alive? Must confess, given I've never seen him at Withdean or The Amex I assumed he died years ago!

 

[Peteinblack]

When I first started going to the Goldstone, he was my hero!

Same here!

 

[wolfie]

In my time following the Albion (1959 - Present) the top goalscorers have been:

K Napier 99
Ward 95
Zamora 89
Nogan 60
Connor 59
Nelson 59
Murray 57
Barnes 53
Forster 51

Nobody else above 50, in all competitions. Having said that, the player who I saw scoring the most was the superb Jimmy Collins (an inside forward - attacking midfield player of today) who seemed to score in every game during the 60s.

 

[severnside gull]

He's still alive? Must confess, given I've never seen him at Withdean or The Amex I assumed he died years ago!

Long mat heat commute from Durban


Love that photo. Nobby Lawton not had a mention yet - proper old school player!

 

[WATFORD zero]

The man behind my NSC name. I remember him as being very hairy, nicotine stained fingers and one of the all time Albion greats. He had skill, imagination and humour. He was my first Albion hero. Wanted to have Alan Duffy as a hero too but he turned out not to be very good

I remember Alan Duffy being very, very good - just not for very long

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Ken was a lovely bloke and nobody's fool. After leaving us he went to yesterday's opponents, Blackburn, and became Commercial Manager right up to about 3 years ago I believe. If I remember right we had Howard Wilkinson, latterly FA bigwig and briefly England Manager (I think?) in the side around the same time Ken came to the club (certainly at the same time Kit was here).

Wilkinson spent 5 years with us, the same as he spent at Wednesday (with whom he is normally associated). He was a bow legged winger. I saw him play. My recollection is he was on the left, and 'Tiger' Tawse was on the right, but I have a notoriously poor feel for formation